Portable crimping tool

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is that of an invention directed to a portable tool for crimping sleeve connected cable joints and includes a cylinder having a fluid actuated, spring returned, piston subassembly that is bodily removable from the cylinder. A crimping die is removably carried by the front end of the piston in complementary association with a joint-retaining fixed saddle carried by the cylinder; and means are provided for preventing relative rotation between the crimping die and its associated saddle as the piston is reciprocated.

I United States Patent [111 3,862,482

Green 1 Jan. 28, 1975 [54] PORTABLE CRIMPING TOOL 3.599.308 8/!971 Fielder 29/203 DT 75 Inventor: C ril Robert Green, Honesdale, Pa. l y Primary ExaminerTh0mas H. Eager Asslgneesi fPr-w l 1:1 Medlor Atlorney, Agent, or FirmBauer & Amer 0t 0 a verne. part interest to each [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1974 I The disclosure IS that of an invention directed to a p 437,745 portable tool for crimping sleeve connected cable joints and includes a cylinder having a fluid actuated. 52 us. Cl. 29/203 or Spring returned. Piston Sub-assembly that is bodily 51 Int. Cl l-l0lr 43/04 movable from the Cylinder A Crimping die is remov- [58] Field of Search 29/203 DT 2 D5, 203 D ably carried by the front end of the piston in comple- 29/203 R mentary association with a joint-retaining fixed saddle carried by the cylinder; and means are provided for [56] References Cited preventing relative rotation between the crimping die UNITED STATES PATENTS and its associated saddle as the piston is reciprocated.

3,523,351 8/l970 Filia 29/203 DT 17 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures i 6 I610 5 8 9 35 32 27 A! I 34 l 28 29 lllll X 25 if? I /9 PORTABLE CRIMPING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in tools for securing sleeve connectors to elements enclosed thereby and particularly seeks to provide a novel portable tool for crimping sleeve connectors to electrical cables.

Sleeve connectors are well known and simply comprise pieces of metal tubing of appropriate length and diameter to fit snugly over the butted ends of a paid of electrical cables and are secured thereto for retention and electrical continuity by crimping or other internally directed clamping deformation.

Heretofore, although many hand and power tools have been devised to perform the crimping operations on the connectors, experience has indicated that the hand tools are either too slow in operation, or are incapable of readily applying adequate crimping pressure or are so proportioned and sized as to be difficultly usable in confined spaces and that the power tools are either too bulky and heavy for ease in use regardless of available work space or are difflcult to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning or parts replacement following prolonged periods of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above problems are overcome through the use of a portable crimping tool constructed in accordance with this invention.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel portable tool for crimping sleeve connectors that may be either hydraulically or air operated, that is compact in size, light weight and may be readily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning or parts replacement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character stated that includes an air or hydraulically operated cylinder in which the piston thereof carries a removably mounted crimping die and is fluid operated in its power applying stroke and spring returned in its relief stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character stated in which the entire piston sub assembly may be bodily removed from one end of the cylinder.

Another object of this invention is'to provide a tool of the character stated in which the piston return spring is located within the piston and interposed between the forward end thereof and a rearwardly positioned orifice disc removably mounted across the rear end of the cylinder and in which the front end of the piston return spring is retained in position by a transverse pin removably mounted in the piston.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character stated in which one end of the cylinder carries a connector sleeve receiving saddle or anvil disposed with its longitudinal axis normal to that of the piston and lying in the median plane of the crimping die.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character stated in which the crimping die is removably secured to the adjacent end of the piston by a bayonet joint and retained in its installed position by a spring loaded retainer ball detent.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character stated in which means are provided to prevent relative rotation between the piston and the cylinder as the piston reciprocates.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will become apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled crimping tool constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof;

FIG. 3 is an offset transverse vertical section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail longitudinal vertical section corresponding to the right end portion of FIG. 2 but showing a modification in which an externally threaded plug is used in place of the internally threaded external cap and the adjustable gauge sleeve;

FIG. 6 is a detail perspective of a typical sleeve connected completed joint; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail the invention, as illustrated, is embodied in a fluid operated crimping tool and includes a cylinder 5 having an inwardly projecting annular flange 6 at its front end and a shallow rearwardly projecting annular extension 7 at its rear end.

A relatively long cylindrical piston generally indicated 8 is mounted for reciprocation within the cylinder 5 and includes a rearwardly disposed portion 9 of relatively large diameter for sliding engagement with the inside wall of the cylinder, a relatively long forwardly disposed portion 10 of a smaller diameter such as to slidably engage with the inner wall of the flange 6 and a short rearwardly extending portion 11 having a diameter substantially the same as that as the forwardly disposed portion 10 whereby to define an annular void 12 between the piston and the cylinder for admission of actuating fluid as will be hereinafter more fully described. The large diameter portion 9 is provided with one or more O-rings or other seals 13 to prevent fluid bypass.

The piston 8 also is provided with a deep axial well 14, open at its rear end for the retention of a piston return tension spring 15 provided at its forward end with an eye 16 engaged by a transverse retainer pin 17 removably mounted in the forward piston portion 10 as by a threaded head 18. The rear end of the spring 15 is provided with a rearwardly extending tension screw 19 that projects through an orifice disc 20 for engagement by an adjusting nut 21.

The orifice disc 20 is seated freely upon the shoulder defined by the annular cylinder extension 7 and is provided with a plurality of orifices 22 to admit piston actuating fluid into the void 12.

The rear end of the cylinder 8'is closed by an external cap 23 threadably engaged thereover and provided with an internally threaded boss 24 or other means for quick connection to a hose for supplying actuating fluid under pressure through any suitable trigger controlled valving device (not shown). The inner end of the boss 24 opens into communication with a generally frustoconical chamber 25 which in turn communicates with the orifices 22. When oil or other liquid is used as the actuating fluid, the walls of the chamber 25 may be used to collect any free air bubbles that may be present in the liquid at the tool location simply by pointing the tool downwardly and allowing the bubbles to rise. An O-ring 26 or other suitable seal is interposed between the cylinder and the cap 23 to prevent fluid leakage therebetween.

The front end face of the piston 8 is provided with a bayonet joint socket 27 adapted to receive and retain the disc base of a crimping die generally indicated 28 having a forwardly extending work performing crimping or indenting bar 29 that becomes horizontally disposed when the crimping die is in its installed condition. The disc base of the crimping die 28 carries a radially directed spring loaded ball detent 30 that mates with a complementary recess in the wall of the socket 27 to removably retain the crimping die in its properly installed position.

Before proceeding further in the description, it should be noted at this point that the piston 8, the spring 15 and the orifice plate 20, with or without the presence of the crimping die 28, collectively constitute a sub-assembly that readily may be bodily removed in a rearward direction from the cylinder 5 for cleaning or parts replacement simply by first removing the rear closure cap 23 and then axially extracting the subassembly. Replacement of the spring 15 easily may be effected simply by removing the adjusting nut 21 to relieve pressure on the retainer pin 17 so that the spring then can be withdrawn together with or after removal of the freely seated orifice disc 20.

The tool is completed by a front cap 31 threadably engaged over the front end of the cylinder 5 and provided with a central aperture for reciprocating passage of the forward portion of the piston 8 therethrough. An O-ring 32 or other suitable seal frictionally engages the forward portion 10 of the piston.

The front cap 3l'is provided with a forwardly extending arm 33 terminating in a transversely disposed semicircular saddle or die 34 for receiving the sleeved joint to be crimped.

In order to prevent relative rotary motion between the crimping bar 29 and the saddle 34, the forward portion 10 of the piston is provided with a vertical bore 35 which carries a slidable or threaded key pin 36, the lower end of which normally extends downwardly into engagement within a longitudinally extending keyway 37 formed in the upper face of the arm 33. If the pin 36 is press fit in the bore 35 a vertical bore 38, corresponding in diameter to the bore 35, extends downwardly from a point adjacent the rear end of the keyway 37 to the bottom of the arm 33 for selective registry with the bore 35 to permit removal of the pin 36 whenever the piston sub-assembly is to be removed.

It will have become apparent from the foregoing description that the length of the forward portion 10 of the piston 8 is sufficient to enable proper crimping of any sleeved joint capable of being retained by the saddle 34 and that the configuration ofthe crimping indentation is determined by the configuration of the crimping bar 29. However, in order to establish and maintain precise control of the depth of indentation for each selected combination of sleeve diameter and crimping bar configuration, it is desirable to limit the forward advance or power stroke of the piston 8 to a predetermined distance. For this purpose a depth gauge sleeve 42 of appropriate length may be inserted into the cylinder during assembly of the tool so that its front face will abut against the inner face of the flange 6 and its rear face will serve as a stroke limiting abutment for the front face of the large diameter cylinder portion 9. Thus, the permissive lengths of the power strokes ofthe piston may be predetermined by the proper selection of length of the gauge sleeve 42 and its replacement by an appropriately longer or shorter sleeve whenever the power stroke length is to be changed. For this stroke limiting purpose it is also possible to have the gauge sleeve 42 threadably mounted on the forward portion 10 of the piston adjacent the large diameter portion 9 thereof for axial movement with respect thereto. In this latter instance it would be necessary to provide threads and/or set screws or other positive locking but releasable means 42a between the gauge sleeve and the piston to maintain the gauge sleeve in each preset gauging position as FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 of the drawings shows a modification in which the rear closure cap 23 may be replaced by an internal plug 39 having the same internal configuration as the cap 23 and provided with spanner sockets 40 for insertion and retraction. In this modification an O-ring 41 or other suitable seal preferably is carried by the body of the plug, rather than being interposed between the plug and the orifice disc 20.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a completed sleeve 43 connected cable joint when crimped at 44 to join the cables 45 through the use of the tool of this invention.

Although the above described and illustrated embodiment of this invention is directed to a tool for crimping sleeved cable joints, it will be understood that the principles of this invention are equally applicable to longitudinal or transverse cutting or other functions simply by replacing the crimping die 28 and its associated crimping bar 29 with a cutting die having a suitably disposed and configured cutting blade. In this latter function it may be necessary to relieve the opposed surface of the saddle 34 in the event that the cut is to be made completely through the object being worked upon.

It is of course to be understood that variations in arrangements and proportions of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for operating upon sleeve connected joints or the like; an open ended tubular cylinder having an inwardly directed annular flange at its front end and an annular disc receiving shoulder at its rear end, the circular aperture defined by said annular flange having a diameter less than the inside diameter of said cylinder; a circularly cross-sectioned piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a relatively long front portion of reduced diameter for sliding engagement with the wall of said flange defined circular aperture, a portion of larger diameter for sliding engagement with the associated wall of said cylinder for the reception of actuating fluid, said piston being provided with a rearwardly open axial well; a disc freely seated on said annular disc receiving shoulder and provided with at least one orifice extending into communication with the rear portion of said cylinder; means for retaining said disc in its seated position on said annular shoulder and for admitting actuating fluid to the said at least one orifice thereof; a transversely disposed retainer pin removably mounted in said piston adjacent the bottom of said well; a tension spring located in said well intermediate the bottom thereof and said disc, the forward end of said spring being releasably engaged with said removable retainer pin, the rear end of said spring being adjustably and releasably secured to said disc for movement in an axial direction whereby to permit changes in the tension of said spring to be effected and to permit removal of said disc during disassembly; a work piece operating element removably affixed to the front end of said piston; and a rigid work piece supporting saddle carried by said cylinder and disposed in spaced cooperative relation with respect to said work piece operating element,

2. The tool of claim 1 in which said work piece operating element includes a transverse crimping bar extending forwardly from the front end of said piston in operative alignment with a work piece supported by said saddle.

3. The tool of claim 1 in which said work piece operating element is connected to the front end of said pis ton by a bayonet joint and which additionally includes pressure release detent means for maintaining said work piece operating element in its properly oriented position when so connected to said piston.

4. The tool of claim 1 additionally including means for preventing relative rotation between said piston and said cylinder as said piston reciprocates.

5. The tool of claim 1 in which said disc retaining means comprises a cap threadably engaged over the rear end of said cylinder and having an inner face disposed in retaining contact with said disc, said cap also being provided with a rearwardly extending hollow boss for connection with a source of actuating fluid and communicating with an internal chamber of generally frusto-conical configuration for transmission of said actuating fluid to said at least one orifice in said disc.

6. A piston containing sub-assembly for use with a tool for operating upon sleeve connected joints or the like and comprising; a circularly cross-sectioned piston having a relatively long front portion of reduced diame ter, a portion having a diameter greater than that of said front portion, said piston being provided with a rearwardly open axial well; a disc spanning the rear end of said piston in free association therewith and having a diameter greater than that of the said intermediate portion of said piston, said disc being provided with at least one orifice for open communication with the exterior of said rear portion of said piston; a transversely disposed retainer pin removably mounted in said piston adjacent the bottom of said well; and a tension spring located in said well intermediate the bottom thereof and said disc, the forward end of said spring being releasably engaged with said removable retainer pin, the rear end of said spring being adjustably and releasably secured to said disc for movement in an axial direction whereby to permit changes in the tension of said spring to be effected, to maintain the rear end of said piston normally in abutting contact with said disc, and to effect retention of said disc during assembly and its removal during disassembly.

7. The sub-assembly of claim 6 additionally including a work piece operating element removably affixed to the front end of said piston.

8. The sub-assembly of claim 7 in which said work piece operating element extends forwardly of the front end of said piston.

9. The sub-assembly of claim 8 in which said work piece operating element is connected to the front end of said piston by a bayonet joint and which additionally includes pressure release detent means for maintaining said work piece operating element and its associated crimping bar in its properly oriented position when so connected to said piston.

10. The tool of claim 1 additionally including abutment means located about the said front portion of said piston for limiting the distance of reciprocation of the power stroke of said piston.

11. The tool of claim 10 in which said abutment means comprises a sleeve of predetermined length fitted within said cylinder in abutting relation to said inwardly directed annular flange.

12. The tool of claim 10 in which said abutment means comprises a relatively short sleeve adjustably mounted on the said front portion of said piston for axial movement with respect thereto and normally disposed in proximity to the said larger diameter intermediate portion of said piston.

13. In a fluid operated tool having an elongated fluid operable piston, said piston comprising an enlarged portion along the length thereof, a well defined in and with an opening at one end of said piston, adjustable tension means in said piston well, retainer means releasably mounted fluid tight in said piston and releasably supporting said tension means in said well, releasable adjusting means engaging said tension means to release and to adjust the tension of said tension means in said piston well, means supporting said adjustable means for access to enable the adjustment of the same at said one end of said piston, and work performing means on said piston for movement therewith.

14. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 13, said supporting means being larger than said piston ends to extend therebeyond and providing at least a fluid passage to enable fluid to flow under pressure therebeyond to said enlarged portion of said piston to cause said piston to move in response to the application of fluid pressure.

15. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 14, a housing in which said piston is moved, said housing having an opening at one end for the movement of said piston therethrough and a closure threadedly engaged at the other end to releasably close said one end of said piston, said closure means having means for connecting said housing with a source of fluid pressure and including surface means to guide the fluid to said one end of said piston and tapered to direct the flow of air from said one end of said piston to said connecting means when said tool is tilted with said closure directed upward.

16. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 15, said housing means cooperable with said enlarged portion of said piston to limit the movement of said piston in response to the application of fluid pressure thereto.

17. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 16, and means on said housing cooperable with said work performing means on said piston when said piston is moved in response to the application of fluid pressure to perform work on a work piece positioned therebetween. 

1. In a tool for operating upon sleeve connected joints or the like; an open ended tubular cylinder having an inwardly directed annular flange at its front end and an annular disc receiving shoulder at its rear end, the circular aperture defined by said annular flange having a diameter less than the inside diameter of said cylinder; a circularly cross-sectioned piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder and having a relatively long front portion of reduced diameter for sliding engagement with the wall of said flange defined circular aperture, a portion of larger diameter for sliding engagement with the associated wall of said cylinder for the reception of actuating fluid, said piston being provided with a rearwardly open axial well; a disc freely seated on said annular disc receiving shoulder and provided with at least one orifice extending into communication with the rear portion of said cylinder; means for retaining said disc in its seated position on said annular shoulder and for admitting actuating fluid to the said at least one orifice thereof; a transversely disposed retainer pin removably mounted in said piston adjacent the bottom of said well; a tension spring located in said well intermediate the bottom thereof and said disc, the forward end of said spring being releasably engaged with said removable retainer pin, the rear end of said spring being adjustably and releasably secured to said disc for movement in an axial direction whereby to permit changes in the tension of said spring to be effected and to permit removal of said disc during disassembly; a work piece operating element removably affixed to the front end of said piston; and a rigid work piece supporting saddle carried by said cylinder and disposed in spaced cooperative relation with respect to said work piece operating element.
 2. The tool of claim 1 in which said work piece operating element includes a transverse crimping bar extending forwardly from the front end of said piston in operative alignment with a work piece supported by said saddle.
 3. The tool of claim 1 in which said work piece operating element is connected to the front end of said piston by a bayonet joint and which additionally includes pressure release detent means for maintaining said work piece operating element in its properly oriented position when so connected to said piston.
 4. The tool of claim 1 additionally including means for preventing relative rotation between said piston and said cylinder as said piston reciprocates.
 5. The tool of claim 1 in which said disc retaining means comprises a cap threadably engaged over the rear end of said cylinder and having an inner face dispoSed in retaining contact with said disc, said cap also being provided with a rearwardly extending hollow boss for connection with a source of actuating fluid and communicating with an internal chamber of generally frusto-conical configuration for transmission of said actuating fluid to said at least one orifice in said disc.
 6. A piston containing sub-assembly for use with a tool for operating upon sleeve connected joints or the like and comprising; a circularly cross-sectioned piston having a relatively long front portion of reduced diameter, a portion having a diameter greater than that of said front portion, said piston being provided with a rearwardly open axial well; a disc spanning the rear end of said piston in free association therewith and having a diameter greater than that of the said intermediate portion of said piston, said disc being provided with at least one orifice for open communication with the exterior of said rear portion of said piston; a transversely disposed retainer pin removably mounted in said piston adjacent the bottom of said well; and a tension spring located in said well intermediate the bottom thereof and said disc, the forward end of said spring being releasably engaged with said removable retainer pin, the rear end of said spring being adjustably and releasably secured to said disc for movement in an axial direction whereby to permit changes in the tension of said spring to be effected, to maintain the rear end of said piston normally in abutting contact with said disc, and to effect retention of said disc during assembly and its removal during disassembly.
 7. The sub-assembly of claim 6 additionally including a work piece operating element removably affixed to the front end of said piston.
 8. The sub-assembly of claim 7 in which said work piece operating element extends forwardly of the front end of said piston.
 9. The sub-assembly of claim 8 in which said work piece operating element is connected to the front end of said piston by a bayonet joint and which additionally includes pressure release detent means for maintaining said work piece operating element and its associated crimping bar in its properly oriented position when so connected to said piston.
 10. The tool of claim 1 additionally including abutment means located about the said front portion of said piston for limiting the distance of reciprocation of the power stroke of said piston.
 11. The tool of claim 10 in which said abutment means comprises a sleeve of predetermined length fitted within said cylinder in abutting relation to said inwardly directed annular flange.
 12. The tool of claim 10 in which said abutment means comprises a relatively short sleeve adjustably mounted on the said front portion of said piston for axial movement with respect thereto and normally disposed in proximity to the said larger diameter intermediate portion of said piston.
 13. In a fluid operated tool having an elongated fluid operable piston, said piston comprising an enlarged portion along the length thereof, a well defined in and with an opening at one end of said piston, adjustable tension means in said piston well, retainer means releasably mounted fluid tight in said piston and releasably supporting said tension means in said well, releasable adjusting means engaging said tension means to release and to adjust the tension of said tension means in said piston well, means supporting said adjustable means for access to enable the adjustment of the same at said one end of said piston, and work performing means on said piston for movement therewith.
 14. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 13, said supporting means being larger than said piston ends to extend therebeyond and providing at least a fluid passage to enable fluid to flow under pressure therebeyond to said enlarged portion of said piston to cause said piston to move in response to the application of fluid pressure.
 15. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 14, a housing in which said piston is moved, said housIng having an opening at one end for the movement of said piston therethrough and a closure threadedly engaged at the other end to releasably close said one end of said piston, said closure means having means for connecting said housing with a source of fluid pressure and including surface means to guide the fluid to said one end of said piston and tapered to direct the flow of air from said one end of said piston to said connecting means when said tool is tilted with said closure directed upward.
 16. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 15, said housing means cooperable with said enlarged portion of said piston to limit the movement of said piston in response to the application of fluid pressure thereto.
 17. In a fluid operated tool as in claim 16, and means on said housing cooperable with said work performing means on said piston when said piston is moved in response to the application of fluid pressure to perform work on a work piece positioned therebetween. 